Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

                                   William Ernest Henley 

 

             Invictus is a story of rugby team of South Africa playing the world cup on its soil. Against the background is the transition of power from whites to blacks. The shadow of apartheid looming large. The atmosphere is full of revenge, suspicion, scorn. But President Nelson Mandela with legendary leadership handles it with courage, determination and statesmanship. He is on a mission of nation building in its difficult times. He is doing it with acceptance, assimilation, reposing faith in blacks as well as whites. The captain of the team, comprised mainly of white players, meets president. President talks about inspiring players to do beyond expectations. A brilliant and inspiring movie. In the movie comes the reference of a poem Invictus. Not being a student of literature means obviously being deprived of study of classics. I never came across this poem till I watched the movie.

           Mandela spent 27 years in imprisonment. In the dark hours of depression when he was on the boundary of losing hope he sought inspiration in this poem. He was in jail fighting for justice. The meaning of Invictus is unconquerable, undefeated. Written by William Henley more than a hundred years ago is still relevant because it challenges fate and talks about becoming the master of it. In the darkness, signifying despair with no sign of light of hope the poet thanks whatever gods may be for his unconquerable soul. He claims that he has not cried under the grip of cruel circumstances nor has he bowed down when hit hard by situation beyond his control. In the shadow of despair, in the years of unrelenting pain he stands with strength unafraid.

          Though he understands, the path to get out of this misery is tough, though he is aware of punishments when circumstances are challenged, he stands firm and declares he is the master of his fate and is the captain of his soul. It is an inspiring poem showing the way when things turn against us. When you are losing on all fronts, possibilities of revival almost diminished, despair engulfs this poem provides a thread of hope to hang on. The poem is not merely an imagination of poet or an intellectual flight but it has come out of withering experience of life. William Henley was fighting illness, his one foot was amputated and other was to follow. He was staring at darkness. The amputation was necessary for his survival. Just imagine the gloom, despair he was in. The poem took birth in this shadow of dejection. He was a young boy struggling to survive, on the verge of disability.

         In the first stanza he pronounces his soul unconquerable and thanks whatever god that may be. In the darkness of depression he clings to his soul which is unaffected by the shadow of sadness. It is a ray of hope. In the next two he exhibits fighting spirit. His refusal to surrender, to cry and his will to face adversity fearlessly. It is truly inspirational. When you confront the miserable condition you are punished by the situation meaning the fight is not friendly it often is bloody. But the final declaration comes in last two lines. I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. These two lines define the philosophy of poem. Point to the intellectual preparation to face the worst difficulty.

           Fate is an obscure concept. When we have unanswered personal questions like why this has happened to me, we attribute it to fate. The reasons though sometimes known partially they are often beyond the control of us. More often than not they lead to questions without answer. We then take resort to fate. If fate is beyond our control how can we be master of it? The answer is in the unconquered soul. It is an inner self different from body. It is untouched by the circumstances, not affected by the gloom around. When understood it provides us a fortress to survive adversity. It is a spiritual realm.      

            It very well defines the limitations of fate. Fate can affect the body but not inner self. Fate cannot reach there. It remains unconquered. The real strength is not physical it is intellectual, in understanding the limits of fate and strength of inner self. The stronger the inner self better you are in mastering the fate. You are the captain of your soul, the inner self. Indeed, it’s yours. In fact it’s you in true sense. The fate however strong it may be cannot affect inner self. This realization makes one invictus. The battle is within. He is not a winner, more appropriately he cannot be defeated. Being invictus doesn’t mean he always creates favourable conditions, he is the one who renders adverse conditions ineffective. He never surrenders when hit hard by circumstances. He has no complaints about the harsh situation. In the darkest hour he firmly holds on to the ray of hope. Since he is fearless he is devoid of violence. He is compassionate as he understands pain.

        Invictus he is…    
        The master of his fate 
        And the captain of his soul.

         A beacon light of hope and inspiration.